Railway switch operating apparatus



June 4, 1935. w. c. McWHlRTER RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Original Fil ed March 25, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l p v. e E mm m h T V m% f a a m H M i v. Q 6% w B N .L \w w w y n a Q n u U D 1. Q g

June 4, 1935. v w. c. M WHIRTER RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 25, 1932 TQMN v P 0 mm m h w 0 NQW IM A G S m m w y fim mm B III- 1% A w \N W s m m 8 6% @V a wfi l huw V 1 i June 4, 1935.

W. C. M WHIRTER RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Original Filed March 23, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FBY Q/flw HIS ATTORNEY June 4, 1935. w. c. M WHIRTER RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Original Filed March 23, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 k fi QQN N m. z I. .N. T LS 9w w w N k k I n y I ml 5% I. l \..m\ n U mlwlilisl J M (\QIN E kN w MN 5-3 INvEm'ok [UilliamCMQlUlnPfer BY 622m?" HIS ATTORNEY 'June 4, 1935. w. c. M WHIRTER RAlLwA Y SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Original Filed March 23, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ctMywlzi zep' WW INVENTOR HIS ATTORNEY Patented June 4, 1935 UNITED STATES RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS William C. McWhirter, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignor to The Union Switch 52 Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application March'23, 1932, Serial No.

600,601, new Patent No.'1,972,663, dated September 4, 1934. Divided and this applicatio April 3, 1934, Serial No. 718,764

10 Claims.

My invention relates to railway switch operating apparatus.

One feature of my invention is the provision of novel and improved means for locking the movable points of a railway switch in either extreme position of the switch.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of novel and improved mechanism for detecting any failure of the switch points to occupy their proper positions relative to the stock rails in either extreme positionoi the switch.

The present application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 606,601, filed March 23, 1932, now Patent Number 1,972,663, issued Sept. c, 1934, for Railway switch operating apparatus.

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a top plan View showing a frog layout A operated by a switch machine M embodying one form of switch locking and point detecting apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a left-hand side View of a portion of the switch machine M shown in Fig. 1, drawn on a somewhat larger scale, and having some of the parts broken away or removed to better illustrate the construction thereof. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a portion'of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional viewstaken on the lines V-V and VIVI, respectively, of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the parts in a different position. Figs. ,8 and 9 are sectional views taken on the lines VIII-VIII and IXIX, respectively, of Fig. '7. Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line XX of Fig. 2. Fig. 11 is a top plan View showing on an enlarged. scale a portion of the circuit controller forming part of the point detector inechanismof the switch machine M illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 12 is a View of the cam 37 forming part of the circuit controller shown Figs. 2, l and 11, as it appears when viewed from the left in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a View of the cam 31* forming part of the circuit controller shown in Figs. 2, l0 and 11, as it appears when viewed from the right in Fig. 11.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring first to Fig. l, I havehere shown a movable point frog layout A operated by a switch machine M into which may invention has been incorporated. The frog layout A is of standard construction, and comprises the usual stock rails R, R between which are movably mounted two pairs of switch points P P and P P, respectively, such pairs bein disposed in opposed relation mdhaving their confronting ends-connect- 1 ed by front rods l and l respectively. I The switch points P P are also connected together by the usual head rod 2 and the switch points PH? are similarly connected together by the usual head rod 2*. The head rod 2 in turn, is connected through the usual lost motion connection 3* with one end of a throw rod 4, the other end of which is pivotally connected to one arm of a bell crank lever 5. The bell crank lever '5 is pivotally supported in the trackway at 6, and

nected, by means of a connectingrod is and screw jaw it with a throw rod I l which,in' turn, is connected with the head rod 2 by means of a lost me ion connection 3* similar-to the lost motion connection 8 The'throw rod H extends underneath one stock railR and one switch point P, and is connected at its free cndwith the longitudina'lly movable operating rod 0 of the switch machine M. It will be apparent, therefore, from an inspection of the drawings that, when the'operating rod 0 is actuated by theswitch machine, the switch points P P and P P will be simultaneously reversed.

Operatively connected with the front rods l and l are two lock rods L and L respective 1y, which project into the switch machine M, and each of which comprises two bars 12 arrangedside by side, as best seen in Fig. .2. The bars 52 have notches E3 in their lower edges (see Figs. 5, 6, 8 and 9) constructed and arranged in accordance with my present invention as will be described presently, and each lock rod is provided with a suitable device M of standard construction for adjusting the bars [2 longitudinally relative to each other according to the degree of movement of the track switch. Each of the bars it has a long notch 3 and a short notch is spaced a short distance apart, as clearly shown in Figs. 5, 6, 8 and 9., the long notch of the one bar being arranged oppositethe short notch of the other contiguous bar. It will be noted that, as here shown, the adjacent sides la of the two notches H3 in each bar l2 are. perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of thebar while the remaining side 13* of each notch I3 in each bar is beveled at an angle of approximately 45 with the longitudinal axis of the bar. It should be distinctly understood, however, that this particular shape of notches is not essential to my invention, the only essential requirement being that the short notches in the two bars shall have different shapes, and

that the long notches be of such size and shape that a dog of the same configuration as the short notches can enter the long notches with sufiicient clearance to permit the desired adjustment between the bars Referring now particularly to Figs 2 and 3, the switch machine M, in the form illustrated, comprises a suitable casing I provided with guides to receive the operating rod 0 and the lock rods L and L Slidably mounted within the casing directly above the operating rod 0 and directly below the lock rods L and L and intersecting the operating rod 0 and the lock rods L and L at right angles, is a slide bar N. As here shown, the slide bar N is made in two sections secured together by means of screws I9, but it will be readily understood that -this bar may, if desired, be constructed of a single piece of material suitably machined. Attached to, or formed integralwith the upper side of the slide bar N near its right-hand end,

as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3 are three spacedlock-' As best seen in Figs 4'9,

designated by the same reference character'as the associated dog with the exponent a, and with a beveled side, designated by the same reference character as the associated dog with the exponent b, the beveled side I!' of the middle dog I! being located at the opposite side of the slide bar N from the beveled sides l6 and I8 of the other dogs l6 and 18, respectively. The dogs l6, l1 and I8 are so arranged that when the dogs are within the cooperating notches l3 in the lock rods L, their vertical sides will cooperate with the adjacent sides of the notches to securely hold the proper ones of the switch points against the adjacent stock rail for either the normal or the reverse position of the switch in the same well-known manner as in all similar switch locking devices. The tapered sides of the dogs are provided for the purpose of preventing the dogs from entering an improper one of the notches, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. The upper side of the middle dog I! is formed with rack teeth which operateferred to are designated by the same reference characters as the corresponding parts are designated by in the said Zabel patent. Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, this operating mechanism comprises a vertical shaft 35 which pro jects into the casing H: from a transmission housing 3| which is secured to the upper side of the casing. The axis of the shaft is disposed at one side of the point of intersection of the operating rod 0 and slide bar N, while its lower end extends through a slot 53 formed in a cam 54 on the bar N and is provided with a horizontally disposed crank 55. The crank 55 is of substantially rectangular formation, and is rigidly connected to the shaft at its medial portion, its upper side being formed with projections 58 and 5'! arranged on opposite sides of the shaft while its lower side is provided with a pin 53 carrying a roller 59, such pin being disposed at one side of the projection 51. The cam 54 is relatively thick and wide with respect to the main part of the slide bar N, as will be apparent from an inspection of the drawings. The under side of the cam 54 is formed with spaced recesses 64 and 54 adjacent one side edge thereof to receive the projections 58 and 5'! when the crank is rotated, while the opposite ends of the cam are provided with flanges 65 and The confronting sides of the flanges 55 and are curved inwardly at their medial portion to receive the curved ends of the crank 55 while the opposite ends of the flanges are made flat to engage the sides of the crank as will be more fully described hereinafter. The operating rod 0 is formed with a cross arm 56 having a longitudinally extending groove 61 formed in the upper side thereof in which works the roller 59 of the crank 55. One end of the groove 5'! is open while the side walls of the groove are arranged parallel to each other from the open end to its medial portion whereupon they curve outwardly to describe an arc, as shown in Fig. 3.

lhe operation, as a whole, of the apparatus thus far described is as follows: When the operating rod 0 and the slide bar N are in their normal positions in which positions they are shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the switch points are in their corresponding positions in which they are shown in Fig. 1, the locking dogs l6, l1 and i3, and the lock rods L and L occupy the relative positions in which they are shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. That is to say, the locking dog I6 is within the right-hand pair of notches H3 in the lock rod L, as viewed in Fig. 4, and the locking dog 2! is within the left-hand pair of notches 23 in the lock rod L as viewed in 4. It will be readily understood that under these conditions, any thrust on the switch points tending to move them away from their normal positions, such for example as a thrust .due to an improper trailing move, will be resisted by the straight side it or I! of the dog It or H, as the case may be, and it follows, therefore, that the switch points are securely locked in their normal positions by the dogs [6 and H.

When it is desired to reverse the switch points, the shaft 35 is rotated in a clockwise direction to rotate the crank 55 in the same direction. This rotation of the crank causes the pin 51 to engage the left-hand wall of the recess 64, whereby the slide bar N is moved to the left as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, or upwardly as viewed in Fig. 4, far enough to withdraw the dog it from the notches I3 which it previously occupied in the lock rod L the dog l'l. being simultaneously withdrawn from the notches l3 which it previously occupied in the lock rod L thus unlocking the switch points P P and P P During this operating rod to be moved.

movement of the crank, the roller 59 whose initial position was at the closed end of the groove 6! is moved to the medial portion of the groove or at the intersection of the curved and straight walls thereof, but due to the shape of the groove this movement of the roller does not cause the twill be therefore, that during the first part of the movement of the crank the slide bar is moved to unlock the switch points, but the operating rod 0, and hence the switch points, remain at rest. However, in the continued movement of the crank, the roller 59 engages the upper straight side of the groove and imparts sufiicient movement to the operating rod 0 in the general di rection in which the crank is moved to completely reverse the switch points. During the greater part of this portion of the movement of the crank, the curved ends thereof engage the curvedsides of the flanges 65 and 65 so that the crank then serves as a locking means for the slide bar N to prevent longitudinal movements thereof; The movement of the switch points to their reverse positions moves the lock rods L and L from the relative positions in which they are shown in Fig. 4 to the relative positions in which they are shown in Fig. 7, so that the left-hand pair of notches I3 in the lock rod L is then in alignment with the locking dog i1 and the righthand pair of notches in the lock rod L -is in alignment with the locking dog i3. Upon further continued movement of the crank 55, pin 56 enters recess 64 and imparts a second movement to the slide bar in the same direction as the first movement, this latter movement being suihcient to cause the locking dog H to enter the lefthand pair of notches i 3 in the lock rod L and the dog i8 to enter the right-hand pair of notches i3 in the lock rod L as shown in Figs. '7, 8 and 9, thus locking the switch points in their reverse positions. It should be pointed out that when the switch points are locked in their reverse. positions any thrust tending to open the points is then taken by the straight side H or l8 of the dog I! or l8, as the case may be, thus insuring an effective locking of the points under these conditions. It will be noted from the foregoing that the movement of the operating rod which reverses the switch points is subsequent to the initial movement of the slide bar which uniocks the switch points but is in advance of the final movement which looks the switch points in their reverse positions.

In order to restore the switch points to their normal positions after they have been reversed as above described, the shaft 30 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to rotate the crank 55 in this direction. The subsequent movements of the operating rod and slide bar above described are maintained under these conditions but the directions of the movements are reversed.

The means for rotating the shaft 36 forms no part of my present invention and is therefore not shown in the drawings.

It should be pointed out that while the dog I? can enter the left-hand pair of notches E3 in the lock rod L it cannot, due to its shape, enter the other pair of notches in this bar. It will be seen, therefore, that if the lock rod L should become broken or disconnected from the. switch points P P for any reason when the switch points are in the relative positions in which they are shown in Fig. 4, and the switch machine is sul sequently operated to reverse the switch points, the switch points would move to their reverse pomovement.

sitions in the manner previously described, but the lock rod L would fail to move, and as a result, when the slide bar N has moved to the position in which the dog I? would normally start to enter the left-hand pair of notches in the lock rod L to lock the switch points in their reverse positions, this dog would engage the lock rod adjacent the right-hand pair of notches, which would prevent the slide bar from completing its When this happens, an indication of the improper operation of the slide bar would be given by the usual indication circuits controlled by the circuit controller C referred to hereinbefore, and it follows, therefore, that the improper operation of the apparatus under the above conditions would be detected. 7 Furthermore, if the lock rod L should'become broken or disconnected from the switch points when the switch points are in the positions shown in Fig. 7, so thatthis lock rod failed tomove when the switch points are subsequently reversed by the switch machine, the dog i6, due to its shape; could not enter the left-hand pair of notches in this look rod, and the slide bar would therefore be prevented from moving to the extreme position corresponding to the position which the switch points then occupy, thus causing the broken rod to again be detected by the circuit controller. In a similar manner, if the lock rod L should become broken or dis connected from the switch points when the switch machine was subsequently operated to reverse the switch points, the dog I! or 18, as the case may be, would prevent the slide bar from moving to the extreme position corresponding to the new position of the points, thus causing the improper operation to be detected under these conditions.

Referring now again to Fig. 2, the circuit controller C referred to hereinbefore is mounted in the left-hand end of the switch machine above the lock rods L and L and the slide bar N, and as best seen in Figs. 10 and 11, comprises a suitable supporting framework 22 provided with aligned bearings 22 and 22 in which a horizontal cam shaft 23 is journalled. The cam shaft 23, which is of rectangular cross section except for a rounded portion at each end which fits into the associated bearing, is adapted to be rotated or oscillated in response to the longitudinal movements of the slide bar N, and for this purpose,

the shaft has fixed thereto a gear wheel 24 which meshes with an intermediate idler gear 25 driven by the rack teeth in the upper face of the loclzing dog I? of the slide bar N. The idler gear is pivoted on a pin 26 mounted in a suitable casting 2'! which is fastened to the bottom of the casing l5 of the switch machine M. The cast ing 27 in addition to supporting the pin 26 also serves to prevent vertical displacement of the slide bar N. Mounted on the cam shaft 23 on opposite sides of the gear wheel 24 are a plurality of driving collars of insulating material each designated by the reference character 28 with a suitable distinguishing exponent. Each driving collar 23. is provided with a square hole which has a sliding fit onlthe cam shaft 23, and as clearly shown'in Fig. 10, each driving collar comprises a comparatively narrow web and a peripheral flange extending in each direction; A portion of the peripheral flange of each driving collar is tapered, and the tapered portion is providedwith :serrationsor teeth (not shown) around its. en-

tire circumference. Each driving collar 28 carries a contact segmentof electroconductive material designated by the reference character 29 with the same distinguishing exponent as the associated driving collar. Each contact segment 29 is in the form of a ring, the bore of which is tapered to fit the tapered portion of the periphery of the associated insulating driving collar. The bore of each contact segment is also provided with serrations or teeth (not shown) which match the teeth on the periphery of the insulating driving collars. Each contact segment 29 cooperates at its periphery with two contact fingers designated by the reference characters 32 and 33, respectively, with the same distinguishing exponent as the reference character for the associated. cam. For example, the contact segment'ZQ cooperates with the contact fingers 32 and 33 to at times close a contact 32 29 33 The periphery of each contact segment may have any desired length andolue to the mating teeth on the driving collar and the segment, may be turned to any desired position relative to the cam shaft 23. As here shown, the parts are so proportioned, and the contact segments are of such length and are so arranged, that the contacts 32 -2i-33 and 32 29 -33 will be closed at all times except when the slide bar N is in the extreme position in which it locks the switch points in the positions in which. they are shown in Fig. l, and that the contacts 32299-.33 and 32 -29 33 will be closed at all times except when slide bar N is in the extreme position in which it looks the switch points in the position reverse to that in which they are shown in Fig. l. The contacts 3229 -33 32 -29 -33 32-2933 and 32 29 33 may be used in a well known manner to control the circuits for a motor which operates the shaft 30 previously described, or for any other desired purpose.

As best seen in Fig. 10, the gear wheel 24 which drives the cam shaft 23 is formed with oppositely disposed hubs 34 and 34 and mounted on the cam shaft 23 between the hub 34* and the driving collar 28 is a washer and a bushing 36*. A washer 35 similar to the washer 35 and a bush ing 36 similar to the bushing 35 arelikewise mounted on the cam shaft 23 between the hub 34 and the driving collar 28. The hubs 34 and 34 carry two cams 31 and 31*, respectively, which are connected to the hubs to rotate therewith by suitable means which I will describe presently. The cam 3! is provided in its periphery with an arcuate notch 45 (see Fig. 12), and is adapted, when rotated, to actuate a pair of contact fingers [3 which are connected together for simultaneous movement by an insulating bridge 14. The cam 37 is likewise provided in its periphery with an arcuate notch 45 (see Fig. 13) and is adapted, when rotated, to actuate a pair of contact fingers 13 which are connected together for simultaneous movement by an insulating bridge 14 The insulating bridges M and T4 are provided with rollers l5 and 75 respectively, which coact with the corresponding cams 31 and 31 and serve as an actuating medium for the contact fingers when the associated cams are rotated. The fingers 13 and 13 when the notches t5 and 45 in the cams 31 and 31 are Opposite the rollers 15 and 15 at times assume an inclined position in which they engage lower stationary contact fingers 16 H5 and 16 16 as will be described more fully hereinafter, but when the notches lii and 45' are not opposite the rollers '15" and 15 these fingers are lifted to cause the inner finger of each pair to engage an upper stationary contact 11. The cams 3! and. 31 are so arranged, and the notches 45 and 45 are of such length that all of the contact fingers 13 will be lifted when the slide bar N is in transit, but that, one pair of fingers will normally be permitted to assume their lower positions when the slide bar N is at one extreme end of its movement, and the other pair of fingers will normally be permitted to assume their lower positions when the slide bar N is at the other extreme end of its movement, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

The means referred to hereinbefore for operatively connecting the cams 31 and 31 with the associated hubs 34 and 34 comprises, in the form here shown, a feather key 38 on each cam (see Figs. 12 and 13) which is adapted to fit into either one or the other of two angularly spaced longitudinally extending keyways 4i! and 4| formed in the periphery of the associated hub. The spacing between the keyways and M in each hub is such, and the parts are so proportioned, that when the feather key 38 on a cam is within the keyway 43 in the associated hub, the notch in such cam will align with the roller '15 carried by the associated contact fingers '13 when and only when the slide bar N is at the extreme end of its movement corresponding to the positions of the switch points shown in Fig. 1, and that, when the feather key on a cam is in the keyway ii, the notch 5 in such cam will align with the roller 15 carried by the associated contact fingers i when and only when the slide bar N is at the extreme end of its movement corresponding to the extreme position of the switch points opposite to that in which they are shown in Fi 1.

In order to enable the switch machine to be used in either a right-hand or a left-hand installation, it is desirable to be able to change the position of a cam 3'! relative to the associated hub from that in which the feather key 38 thereon fits in one keyway to that in which the feather key fits into the other keyway with a minimum amount of effort, and for this purpose, each hub 34 is provided with an annular groove 42 which is somewhat wider than the length of the keys 38, and which communicates with the inner ends of the grooves 49 and 4! in the hub. With this arrangement, it will be seen that when it is de- 1 sired to change a cam from the relative position on the associated hub in which the key 38 thereon engages the one keyway to the position in which it engages the other keyway, it is only necessary to slide the cam inwardly on the hub until the cam is in alignment with the annular groove 42, rotate the cam until the key is in alignment with the desired keyway, and then move the cam outwardly on the hub to the position in which the key is within the desired keyway. The cams 31 are held in the positions in which the associated key 33 is within one or the other of the keyways 45 or 4! by means of coil springs 44 one of which surrounds each hub 34 between the gear wheel 24 and the associated cam. As here illustrated, the cam 31 occupies the relative position on the hub 34 in which the key 38 thereon is within the keyway 46 in this hub, while the cam 3'! occupies the relative position on the hub 34 in which the key 38 thereon is within the keyway M on this hub. It will be seen, therefore, that with this arrangement, in so far as the control of the contact fingers '13 by cams 31 and 31 is concerned, the contact fingers 13 will be held in the positions in which the contact B -Tl is closed, and the contact li --76 are open, except when the slide bar'N occupies the extreme position corresponding to the position of the switch points shown in Fig. 1, and that the contact fingers 13 will be held in the positions in which the contact 13 -"-T! is closed and the contacts 13 -l6 are open, except when the slide bar N occupies the extreme position corresponding to the extreme position of the switch points opposite to that in which they are shown in Fig. 1.

The contact fingers 13 and 73' are further controlled in accordance with the positions of the switch points by means of point detector mechanism also embodying my invention, which mechanism I will now describe. This mechanism in the form here shown, comprises two crossbars 63 and 68 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 10) which are slidably mounted in the supporting framework 22 directly below the sleeves 35 and 36 on the cam shaft 23 and which extend at right angles to the cam shaft 23 in parallel spaced relation. The crossbar 68 is biased toward the right as viewed in Fig. 3 by means of a spring '12 and is provided with two spaced rollers 70 and H In similar manner, the crossbar 68 is biased toward the left as viewed in Fig. 3 by means of a spring 12', and is provided with two' spaced rollers 10 and ll The rollers 10 and 10 cooperate with the opposite edges of a pair of detector bars $3 and 50 which are slidably mounted in the main casing i5 of the switch machine for movements in directions parallel to the operating rod 0, and the rollers 1| and 1 l likewise cooperate with the opposite edges of a pair of detector bars 55 and 55 which are slidably mounted in the casing [5 in the manner similar to the bars 5& and 50 The detector bars 50 and 50 form part of a detector rod D which, in the form here shown, comprises, in addition to the bars 50 and'5t a connecting rod 5|, and suitable means for securing the bars to one end of the connecting rod in such manner that longitudinal movements of the bars relative to each other and to the rod may be made for purposes of adjustment. The detector bars 50 and 59 likewise form part of a detector rod D which is similar to the detector rod D The free end of the connecting rod 5| of the detector rod D is connected with the front rod l by means of a lug 52 while the free end of the connecting rod 5| of the detector rod D is connected with the front rod l by means of a lug 52 It will be apparent, therefore, that any movement of the switch points will cause corresponding longitudinal movements of the detector rods. Each detector bar 5!! is provided in one edge with a long notch-5i and in the opposite edge with a short notch 62 which is in vertical alignment with the long notch 6| in the other bar of the same connecting rod. The notches are so located and the parts are so proportioned that, with the detector bars properly adjusted, the short notch 62 in the bar 50 ofthe detector rod D will align with the roller I'll on the crossbar 68 and' the short notch 62 in the bar 50 of the detector rod D will align with the roller H on the crossbar 68 when and only whenthe switch points occupy their normal positions in which they are shown in Fig. l; and that, the short notch 62 in the bar 50 of the detector rod D will align with the roller 10* in the crossbar 68 and the short notch- '62 in the detector bar 50 of the detector rod D will align with the roller li on the crossbar 6'8", when and only when the.

switch points occupy the extreme positionoppo; site to that in which they are shown in Fig. 1.

It is obvious that when the short notches 62 in the bars 50 and 50 of the detector rods 13' and D' align with the rollers w and H on thescro'ss bars 68 the spring l2 will urge this crossbar to the position in which the rollers 'Hl and H enter the aligned notches, and that, when the short notches in the bars 50 and 50 'of the de tector rods D and D align with the rollers 10 and N on the crossbar 55*, the spring 12 will urge this crossbar to the position in which these rollers will enter the aligned notches. Theex treme positions to which the crossbar's can be moved by the s rings 'lz 'and 12 in the event of the removal ofthe detector bars 50 from the switch machine are limited by suitable stops 18.

The upper sides of the crossbars' (i8 andt'q are provided with rack teeth 69 and 69 respc tively, which mesh with gear segments 49 and 49 formed on cam members 41 and 41 The cam members 41 and 47 are journalle'd on the bushings 36 and 36 previously described,- long-h tudinal displacement of the cam members ori-the bushings being prevented by an annular flange formed on one end of each bushing,- and by the washer 35 or 3 5 which abuts against the opposite end of. the bushing. The carnme'mber 41 is provided, in addition to the gear segment 4% with an upwardly extending'cam' segment {8 (see Fig. 10) which is adapted to cooperate with the roller l5 carried by the contact fingers- 13, and the cam member 41 is likewise provided with a similar cam segment 48* which is adapted to cooperate with the roller 15 carried by the contact fingers 13 The upper portions of the cam segments 48 and 48 as here shown are curved and are provided with notches Gi or .63

respectively. The parts are so proportioned'that the notch 63 will align with the rollers 15s when and only'when the crossbar 68 is moved to the position in which the rollers 10 and 1 l thereon are within the short notches 62 in the detector bars 56 and 50 of the detector rods D? and D and that the notch 63 will align with the roller 15 when and only when the crossbar 68 is,

moved to the position in which the rollers 10 and H thereon are within the short notches 62 in the detector bars 50 and 53 of the detector' rods D and D It willbe seen, therefore, from the'fore ing that when the switch points are in their iull normalpositions in which they are shown in Fig.

1, and are locked in these positions by the slide bar N, the notch 63*. in the cam segment &8

and the'notch 45 in the cam 3'! will both be" opposite the roller I5 carried by the contact fingers 13 and under these conditions, the contact fingers w will assume their lowermost posi-' tions in which the contact B -ll is open and the contacts Is -J5 are closed. Likewise, when the switch points are in their full reverse'positions, and are locked in these positions by the slide bar N, the'notch 63 in the cam segment.

intermediate positions, the notchii't in the cam' segment 48* and the notch 45* in the cam 31 will be out oialig'nment with roller 15}, and the notch 63' in the cam segment 48 and the notch 45' in the cam 3-l will both Be out of alignment with the roller 15, and under these conditions, both sets of contact'fingers'lS and 13 .will be held in their uppermost positions so that the contacts 13"-l.1 and 13 -1! will both.

be closed while the contacts Hi -id and l.3 -l6 will all be open.

It will also be seen from the foregoing that if, when the switch points are locked in either their normal or their reverse positions, a train trails through either pair of switch points and displaces such pair of switch points from their locked positions, the resultant movement of the point detector rod which is connected to the displaced points will force the crossbar 68 whose roller 10 previously occupied a pair of notches in this detector rod out -of such notches, thus operating'one set or the other of the contact fingers 13 depending upon which position the switch points are in when they are trailed and which pair of points is trailed. For example, I will assume that a train. trails through the switch points P4, P when the switchpoints are locked in the positions in which they are shown 7 in Fig. 1, thus forcibly moving these switch points toward the left. This movement of. the switch points P l? will move the detector rod D downwardly as viewed in Fig. 3 thusforcing the roller H on the crossbar E58 out of the vertical aligned notches B!) and SI in the lefthand sides of the point detector bars 50 of the detector rod D As a result, the cam member 41 which previously occupied the position in which the notch 63* in the cam segment "l8 was in alignment with the roller 15 will be rotated to a position in which the roller 15 is forced to ride up on the periphery of the cam segment 48 thus causing the contactsfi3 16 which were previously closed to become opened and the contacts 13 -71 which were previously open to become closed. The operation of the contacts by the detector bars, if a train trails through the switch points P P when they are locked in their reverse positions, or the switch points P P when these points are locked in either their normal or their reverse positions will be readily understood from the foregoing and from an inspection of the drawing without further description.

It should be particularly pointed out that while I have here shown the point detector mechanism as comprising two detector rods each consisting of two longitudinally adjustable detector bars jointly connected by a single connecting rod to a pair of switch points, in actual practice it may at times be desirable to provide the mech" anism with four detector rods each consisting of a different one of the detector bars 50, and suitable means for separately connecting each point of the switch to a different one of the bars instead of connecting a combined pair of detector bars to the front rod as above described. Inasmuch as it would unnecessarily complicate the disclosure to show such an arrangement here, it has been omitted from the drawings.

It should also be pointed out that while I'have illustrated my invention as applied to a movable point frog, it may equally well be utilized for paratus embodying my invention, it is under stood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In railway switch operating apparatus of the type in which a slide bar is moved to an intermediate position prior to the movement of the operating rod which reverses the switch points and to one or the other of two extreme positions after the completion of the movement of the operating rod depending upon the extreme position to which the switch points have been moved, the combination of two spaced locking dogs secured to the slide bar and located in the same horizontal plane, and a lock rod connected to the switch points to move therewith and provided with two spaced notches adapted to selectively receive said locking dogs to lockthe switch points in their two extreme positions.

2. In railway switch operating apparatus of the type in which a slide bar is moved to an intermediate position prior to the movement of the operating rod which reverses the switch points and to one or the other of two extreme positions after the completion of the movement of the operating rod depending upon the extreme position to which the switch points have been moved, the combination of two differently shaped spaced locking dogs secured to the slide bar and located in the same horizontal plane, and a lock rod connected to the switch points to move therewith and provided with two spaced notches adapted to selectively receive said two dogs to lock the switch points in their two extreme positions.

3. In railway switch operating apparatus of the type in which a slide bar is moved to an intermediate position prior to the movement of the operating rod which reverses the switch points and to one or the other of two extreme positions after the completion of the movement of the operating rod depending upon the extreme position to which the switch points have been moved, the combination of two differently shaped spaced locking dogs secured to the slide bar and located in the same horizontal plane, and a lock rod connected to the switch points to move therewith and provided with two spaced notches having such shapes that each notch will receive a different one of said locking dogs only, the parts being so proportioned that the one dog will enter the correspondingly shaped notch when the switch points are moved to one extreme position and the slide bar is moved to the corresponding extreme position and that the other dog will enter the correspondingly shaped notch when the switch points are moved to the opposite extreme position and the slide bar is moved to the corresponding extreme position.

4. In railway switch operating apparatus of the type in which a slide bar is moved to an intermediate position prior to the movement of the operating rod which reverses the switch points and to one or the other of two extreme positions after the completion of the movement of the operating rod depending upon the extreme position to which the switch points have been moved, the combination of two spaced locking dogs secured to said slide bar in the same horizontal plane and each having a different edge beveled to provide the dogs with different shapes, and a lock rod secured to the switch points to move therewith and provided with two spaced notches so shaped that the one notch will receive the one dog only and the other notch will receive the other dog only.

5. In railway switch operating apparatus of the type in which a slide bar is moved to an intermediate position prior to the movement of the operating rod which reverses the switch points and to one or the other of two extreme positions after the completion or" the movement of the operating rod depending upon the extreme position to which the switch points have been moved, the combination of two spaced locking dogs secured to said slide bar in the same horizontal plane and each having a different edge beveled to provide the dogs with different shapes, and a lock rod secured to the switch points to move therewith and provided with two spaced notches so shaped and so positioned that the one notch will receive the one'dog if and only if the lock rod has been moved by the switch points to one extreme position corresponding to one extreme position of the points when the slide bar is moved toward one of its extreme positions and that the other notch will receive the other dog if and only if the lock rod has been moved by the switch points to an opposite extreme position corresponding to the opposite extreme position of the points when the slide bar is moved toward the other of its extreme positions.

6. In combination, two pairs of movable switch points, means including an operating rod for reversing both pairs of switch points simultaneously, a slide bar, means for moving said slide bar to an intermediate position prior to the movement of said operating rod which reverses the switch points and to one or the other of two extreme positions upon the completion of the movement of the operating rod depending upon the extreme position to which the switch points have been moved, three spaced locking dogs secured to said slide bar in the same plane, and two lock rods one secured to each pair of switch points to move therewith, the one look rod being provided with two spaced notches adapted to receive a first or a second one of said dogs respectively to lock the associated pair of switch points in their two extreme positions and the other lock rod being provided with two spaced notches adapted to receive said second and a third one of said dogs respectively to lock. the associated pair of switch points in their two extreme positions.

'7. In combination, two pairs of movable switch points, means including an operating rod for reversing both pairs of switch points simultaneous- 1y, a slide bar, means for moving said slide barto an intermediate position prior to the movement of said operating rod which reverses the switch points and to one or the other of two extreme positions upon the completion or" the movement of the operatingrod depending upon the extreme position to which the switch points have been moved, three spaced locking dogs secured to said slide bar in the same plane the two outer dogs being shaped difierently from the mid dle dog, and two lock rods one secured to each switch point to move therewith, the one look rod being provided with two spaced notches adapted to selectively receive the middle dog and the one outer dog to lock the associated pair of switch points in their two extreme positions and the other lock rod being provided with two spaced notches adapted to selectively receive the middle dog and the other outer dog to lock the associated pair of switch points in their two extreme positions.

8. In combination, two pairs of movable switch points, means including an operating rod for reversing both pairs of switch points simultaneous- 1y, a slide bar, means for moving said slide bar to an intermediate position prior to the movement of said operating rod which reverses the switch points and to one or the other of two extreme positions upon the completion of the movement of the operating rod depending upon the extreme position to which the switch points have been moved, three spaced locking dogs secured to said slide bar in the same plane and having their alternate edges beveled, and two lock rods one secured to each switch point to move therewith, the one 1001; rod being provided with two spaced notches adapted to selectively receive the middle dog and the one outer dog to lock the one pair of switch points in their two extreme positions and the other lock rod being'provided with two spaced notches adapted to selectively receive the middle dog and the other outer dog to lock the other pair of switch points in their two extreme positions.

and to one or the other of two extreme positions after the completion of the movement ofthe operating rod depending upon the extreme position to which the switch points have been moved, the combination of a first cam, means for operating said first cam in response to movementoi said slide bar, a detector rod connected with'the switch points and provided with a notch, 21. second bar provided with a roller and biased to a position in which said roller will enter the notch in said detector rod in one position of the switch points, a second cam operatively connected with said second bar, and indication contacts "controlled jointly by said two cams.

10. In railway switch operating apparatus of the type in which a slide bar is moved to an intermediate position prior to the movement of the operating rod which reverses the switch points and to one or the other of two extreme positions after the completion of the movement of the operating rod depending upon the extreme position to which the switch points have been moved, the combination of a rotatable cam shaft, a gear operating rod which reverses the switch points 7 wheel secured to said cam shaft and operatively I rod when the switch points occupy a predeter-,

mined position, a second cam rotatably mounted on said cam shaft and operatively connected with said second bar, and a contact controlled by said two cams.

VIILLIAM C. MCWHIRTER. 

